Fallow Deer

General Information

The male is a buck, the female a doe and the young a fawn which is born in late spring. They have a variety of 4 colours from nearly white to nearly black. The most common is chestnut with white spots these are more pronounced in the summer coat.

These large herds of deer are often spotted around the New Forest. They have a rather complicated history in the Uk but it has been believed for many years that the Normans introduced them into the UK for hunting in the royal forests.Fallow deer are now widespread throughout the UK and Europe.

Fun Fact

A fallow buck’s antlers are called palmate or spoon antlers as they have a large flat area like a palm or spoon.

Keeper Notes

In the Deer Encounter there are three, friendly wild rescue fallow deer.

Dotty, a doe who arrived in 2003, Freda, a doe,who arrived in 2007 – both are light coloured (menel). Loki, a buck, who arrived in 2004 and is dark coloured (melanistic).